Projectile displacing apparatus including stressible strands and missiles

ABSTRACT

A missile-launching game of the type having a game board, a weighted target member resting on the game board and missile members connected to the game board by elastic strands for launching the missiles towards the target by stretching the strands and releasing the missiles.

United States Patent Breslow [54] PROJECTILE DISPLACING APPARATUS INCLUDING STRESSIBLE STRANDS AND MISSILES Jeffrey D. Breslow, Chicago, Ill.

Assignee: Marvin Glass & Associates Filed: Feb. 25, 1971 Appl. No.: 118,858

inventor:

US. Cl ..273/l19 R, 273/129 R, 273/128 R Int. Cl. ..A63d 3/02 Field of Search ..273/95 R, 98, 101, 108, 119 R,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Peall ..273/98 [451 Oct. 17, 1972 1,684,602 9/1928 Spitzer ..273/98 3,064,978 11/1962 Burch ..273/1l9R 3,204,965 9/1965 Engle ..273/l19R I Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Examiner-Marvin Siskind Attorney-J. M. Wetzel, J. R. Sweeney, J. Robert Stapleton, W. R. McNair and J R. Hoffman [57] ABSTRACT A missile-launching game of the type having a game board, a weighted target member resting on the game board and missile members connected to the game board by elastic strands for launching the missiles towards the target by stretching the strands and releasing the missiles.

3 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures PROJECTILE DISPLACING APPARATUS INCLUDING STRESSIBLE STRANDS AND MISSILES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1 Field of the Invention This invention relates to game devices and more particularly to a missile-type target game device.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art There are many forms of target-type missile games known in the art. Such games range from those where the missile element is manually thrown, such as darts, bowling and the like, to those where the missile element is launched from a cocked mechanism. Typically, the missile element may be pointed or rigid in structure and may be capable of causing slight or even severe injury, if a participant is inadvertently struck by the missile. This is true, even in the cases where the missiles are small wafer-like discs made of rigid material.

The object of this invention is to provide an improved missile-type target game wherein there is little likelihood of even slight injury to a participant struck by a misdirected missile.

A further object of this invention is to provide improved missile-type target game wherein several participants may simultaneously engage in trying to dislodge a single movable target member with each participant seeking to perform a defensive function in preventing the dislodgement of a target towards a goal area defended by each participant.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention is directed, in brief, to the provision of an improved target game utilizing missile elements which are non-injurious in nature.

The best mode currently contemplated for carrying out the invention includes the provision of a game board, a target member having a weighted bottom and generally slidably positioned on the game board. Plural missile members are provided, each preferably being of a soft compressible material with the missile members connected to elastic strands that are also connected to the game board. Players commonly try to defend individual goals while trying to dislodge the target member towards any other oponents goal through repeated blows of the missile members resultant from stretching the elastic strands and then releasing same, so that the missile members may strike, and displace, the target member on the game board.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a perspective view of the game device of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged vertical section view of a portion of the game device as shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary enlarged top plan view, partially broken away in section, of a corner portion of the game device shown in FIG. 1.

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail a specific embodiment therefor, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the embodiment illustrated.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The game 10 of this invention includes a game board 12 shown in the preferred embodiment as being generally rectangular in plan. Preferably the game board is formed of a rigid cardboard of substantially rigid plastic or other suitable material. The game board includes a generally planar top 14 which may be provided with decorative images thereon and depending side walls, such as 16 and 18, which hold the top 14 raised relative to a supporting surface. Each side wall has a plurality of fences or barrier means, 20, 22, 24 and 26, which are medially positioned along each side wall and which occupy substantial portions thereof, affording openings at each of the corners of 28, 30, 32 and 34 of the game board.

At each corner 28, 30 and 32 and 34 there is provided outwardly extending corner panels 28a, 30a, 32a and 34a, respectively, which generally define a playing station for each participant of the game. In the preferred embodiment, each of the corner panels is generally disc-like and affixed to the bottom of the game board in the area of each of the aforementioned corners.

The game of this invention further includes a target member 36 which is here shown in the form of a sim ulated snowman, having a hat 38, a head portion 40 and a rotund torso portion 42. The head portion 40 and torso portion 42 are each generally spherical in configuration. The bottom of the torso portion 42 has a weighted member 44 received therein so as to normally urge the target member 36 to an upright orientation. However, the target member 36 is of such a characteristic that it may be knocked over, and in'fact, spun about while lying on its side, but will eventually return to an upright orientation resultant from the provision of the weighted member 44 in the bottom of the torso portion 42.

The game of this invention further includes a projectile member or missile member 46 which is affixed at one end of a stressible strand 48, preferably of a suitable elastic material. At its opposite end, the strand 48 extends to an opening 50 in the top 14 and is provided with a knot 52 or similar enlargement at the underside of the top 14 to hold the strand fixed relative to the game board 12. Preferably, the missile member, or projectile member 46, is made of a soft compressible material, such as a soft foam plastic or the like, and may simulate a snowball or the like, which is to be thrown at the target member 36. A plurality of score markers 54 may be provided for retention by the players as they keep track of the score of the game.

In use, the target member 36 is initially placed generally centrally of the game board 12 and the players begin pelting the target member 36 with their simulated snowball missiles 46 by extension of strand 48 relative to the table, and then release thereof, to cause the missiles 46 to be launched towards the target member 36. The object of the game is for a player to prevent the target 36 from entering that portion being defended by that player, as illustrated in the illustrated embodiment by the corners 28, 30, 32 and 34. If the target does cross this goal area and fall off the edge of the board, the player who successfully struck the target to cause it to move through the defended area is awarded a point.

It can be seen that the game of this invention provides for simultaneous competitive action in a missile type game, and also affords the opportunity for opponents to join in a common effort to move towards one goal, following which they will engage in individual endeavors to attempt to successfully move the target through the goal area to score an individual point. During the play of the game, as the missile elements 46 strike the target member 36, the target member may be temporarily knocked on its side and/or spun about, but it will always resume upright position, as previously described, so that it may be continually advanced across the top of the game board 12, responsive to being pelted by the missile elements 46.

Another advantage of the game of this invention is that the missiles 46 are connected to the strands 48, which pennits the missiles to be aimed through at least the 90 segment of the remainder of the game board, comprising the other participantss goal areas. A further advantage of the game of this invention is that the missile elements 46 are made of a soft, compressible plastic so as to be substantially harmless when striking another object or another player. Should a participant be inadvertently struck by the missile element 46, there is no likelihood of even slight injury being inflicted on another participant.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, as some modifications may be obvious to those skilled in the art.

lclaim:

1. A missile type game comprising: means defining a game board; a target member movably associated with said game board; barrier means spaced about the periphery of the game board and defining between each barrier means, a goal area to be defended by players; stressible strand means connected to the game board in each of said goal areas; and missile means connected to said stressible strand means whereby, when said strand means are stressed and then released, said missile means will be launched in a path of flight which may intersect the target member and cause displacement thereof relative to said game board and said goal area.

2. The missile type game of claim 1 wherein the missile means is made of a soft compressible material.

3. The missile type game of claim 2 wherein the target member is slidably associated with said base and is weighted at the bottom thereof so as to be normally upright oriently in play. 

1. A missile type game comprising: means defining a game board; a target member movably associated with said game board; barrier means spaced about the periphery of the game board and defining between each barrier means, a goal area to be defended by players; stressible strand means connected to the game board in each of said goal areas; and missile means connected to said stressible strand means whereby, when said strand means are stressed and then released, said missile means will be launched in a path of flight which may intersect the target member and cause displacement thereof relative to said game board and said goal area.
 2. The missile type game of claim 1 wherein the missile means is made of a soft compressible material.
 3. The missile type game of claim 2 wherein the target member is slidably associated with said base and is weighted at the bottom thereof so as to be normally upright oriently in play. 